Jayant in govt: Lawyer moves EC

A Jamshedpur-based lawyer Sudhir Kumar Pappu has raised questions on the induction of Jayant Sinha into the Union cabinet, citing violation of model code of conduct in poll-bound Jharkhand.

A Jamshedpur-based lawyer Sudhir Kumar Pappu has raised questions on the induction of Jayant Sinha into the Union cabinet, citing violation of model code of conduct in poll-bound Jharkhand. The five-phase assembly polls in Jharkhand would be held between November 25 and December 20.

“On Saturday, I had written to the election commission of India (ECI), requesting Jharkhand to be kept out of Modi government’s expansion as the model code of conduct is already in force across the state. I wonder how it allowed Modi to induct a Jharkhand MP into the ministry. Isn’t it violation of code of conduct?” asked Kumar.

He further said that he would file a writ petition (PIL) on receiving the ECI’s reply to his letter.

On Saturday, Sudhir Kumar had faxed a complaint to the ECI requesting it to ensure that no MPs from Jharkhand are included in the Narendra Modi Cabinet in its imminent expansion in view of the model code of conduct being in force in the state for assembly elections.

Jharkhand chief electoral officer P K Jajoria said that Sinha’s induction doesn’t come under the model of code of conduct violation as it doesn’t seem aimed at influencing voters in Jharkhand or any other poll-bound state.